The Maligned Goldenrod and The Lessons of Nature
https://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/2021/07/the-maligned-goldenrod-and-lessons-of.html
Goldenrod is a much under-utilized herb that is just coming into season in my region. This is the brightly colored, yellow solidago that paints our pastures and roadsides in beautiful golden flowers and deep green leaves, yet is despised by most allergy sufferers. Unfortunately, Goldenrod gets a bad rap! Although Goldenrod is blamed for nasal allergies, it is actually Ragweed (ambrosia) that is the cause. Ragweed blooms at about the same time as Goldenrod, but the flowers are far less showy. Most people see the Goldenrod, but never see the Ragweed which is actually the cause of their suffering. However, both plants may provide relief for those very allergies.
Ragweed is a topic for another article, but rather than leave you in suspense, I will go ahead and discuss its use briefly. Ragweed leaves can be taken as a tea or tincture to help prevent ragweed (and similar) allergies later in the season. If you suffer from late summer/fall allergies, you
should begin using Ragweed now, and continue to do so through the allergy season. Both varieties of Ragweed may be used for this purpose - the Giant Ragweed that grows commonly in the mountains where I live, and the Roman Ragweed or Wormwood Leaved Ragweed that grows commonly all over.
Whereas Ragweed has specific antihistamine or Mast Cell reducing properties, Goldenrod is anti-inflammatory and antiseptic, and is useful for cold, flu and bacterial infections, as well. The solidagos are a very large group of plants in the Asteraceae family. Although much of its history of use has been rooted in the North American herbal traditions, it was known to British herbalists at least by the 1500s, when Gerard wrote that it was good for wounds and to stop bleeding.
Culpepper wrote of Goldenrod:
Venus claims the herb, and therefore to be sure it respects beauty lost. Arnoldus de Villa Nova commends it much against the stone in the reins and kidneys, and to provoke urine in abundance, whereby also the gravel and stone may be voided. The decoction of the herb, green or dry, or the distilled water thereof, is very effectual for inward bruises, as also to be outwardly applied, it stays bleeding in any part of the body, and of wounds; also the fluxes of humours, the bloody-flux, and women's courses; and is no less prevalent in all ruptures or burstings, being drank inwardly, and inwardly, and outwardly applied. It is a sovereign wound herb, inferior to none, both for the inward and outward hurts; green wounds, old sores and ulcers, are quickly cured therewith. It also is of especial use in all lotions for sores or ulcers in the mouth, throat, or privy parts of man or woman. The decoction also helps to fasten the teeth that are loose in the gums.
Mrs. Grieves tells us of Goldenrod:
Medicinal Action and Uses---Aromatic, stimulant, carminative. Golden Rod is an ingredient in the Swiss Vulnerary, faltrank. It is astringent and diuretic and efficacious for stone in the bladder. It is recorded that in 1788 a boy of ten, after taking the infusion for some months, passed quantities of gravel, fifteen large stones weighing up to 1 1/4 OZ., and fifty over the size of a pea. It allays sickness due to weak digestion.
In powder it is used for cicatrization of old ulcers. It has been recommended in many maladies, as it is a good diaphoretic in warm infusion, and is in this form also helpful in dysmenorrhoea and amenorrhoea. As a spray and given internally, it is of great value in diphtheria.
Goldenrod appears to have been in common use in the German Folk Medicine Tradition, Father Künzle writing:
You will find this perennial, often a meter-high plant, with yellow flowers in deforested places, berry places, along roadsides. It rightly deserves the name goldenrod.
Internally one uses the tea for croup, sore throat, bladder ailments, light diarrhea, sleeplessness, but for the internal use one should always add the same amount of juniper berries or common centaury; take half a cup three to five times a day.
The soaked dry herb is also used as poultices for the same diseases externally.
The two alpine relatives senecio cordatus and senecio fuchsii have the same, if not even greater strength.
Four parts of goldenrod and one part of juniper berries (or common centaury) make a good, completely harmless drink for good sleep (half an hour before going to bed).
Maria Treben tells us:
The flowers are gathered from July to October and are used for bleeding of the intestines/ Especially though, Goldenrod is praised as an excellent remedy for disorders of the kidneys. Flowers and leaves of Goldenrod have a cooling effect and, since the plant is diuretic, are recommended in all kidney and bladder complaints…. Goldenrod together with Bedstraw and Yellow or White Dead Nettle is efficacious in cases of cirrhosis of the kidneys and renal failure when renal dialysis has to be performed. In these cases I was able to help, using the above mentioned herbs, a 52 year old man suffering from cirrhosis of the kidneys, came to see me. Puffing and sweating heavily he climbed the stairs to the first floor where I lived. Fighting for breath he fell into a chair. In a week, after having drunk 3 cups of tea made with the aforementioned herb mixture, he felt a lot better. He used only fresh herbs. After the third week he was free from complaints.
All of our emotions are worked off through the kidneys. Therefore they are the most affected after emotional shock, be it a death in the family or any other accident. Goldenrod proves its worth as a medicinal plant which influences human emotions most favorably. It should therefore be drunk without delay in cases of disappointments or emotional stress.
We feel the soothing effect of this plant almost like a calming and caressing hand in severe cases of emotional stress. Even the sight of the Goldenrod in nature has a quieting effect on us. We should be thankful that there grows a plant around us which can bring us such comfort.
According to the Peterson Field Guide for Eastern Medicinal Plants:
Canada Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) American Indians used root for burns, flowers for fever, snakebites; crushed flowers chewed for sore throats. Contains quercetin, a compound reportedly useful in treating hemorrhagic nephritis.
Sweet Goldenrod (Solidago odorata) Leaf tea pleasant-tasting. Formerly used as a digestive stimulant, diaphoretic, diuretic, mild astringent; for colic, to regulate menses, stomach cramps, colds, coughs, fevers, dysentery, diarrhea, measles; externally, a wash for rheumatism, neuralgia, headaches.
The Thomsonians also found this herb useful:
Solidago Canadensis.
This herb may be found common on pine plains in hedges; it grows about two or three feet high, has long, narrow leaf, very smooth and glossy, and a large cluster of yellow blossoms ; it has a sweet, spicy taste and smell, resembling fennel or anise. There is an oil obtained from this herb good for medicine, and also prepared in essence is good for pain in the head, to be taken, or the outside bathed with it. The leaves and flowers are a stimulating and slightly astringent tonic antiseptic to the mucous membrane. It is a sanative germicide, and is valuable in the presence of putrescence, as in diphtheria, scarlatina, tonsilitis, pharyngitis or laryngitis. It may be boiled down and made into confection or troche with sugar, suitable for sore throat of all kinds for children and adults. In catarrh, and especially in lagrippe, Solidago is very valuable. It cures quickly and completely. It may be used alone in hot infusion, or in combination with other suitable agents. In typhoid fever it stimulates and cleanses the alvine mucous membrane very successfully. In phthisis pulmonalis and bronchial catarrh it is of much value, especially when added to other agents influencing the respiratory organs. Dose of the tincture is from 30 to 60 minims. Can be given in hot or cold water as indicated.
Plants for A Future lists its current uses as:
Goldenrod is a safe and gentle remedy for a number of disorders. In particular, it is a valuable astringent remedy treating wounds and bleeding, whilst it is particularly useful in the treatment of urinary tract disorders, being used both for serious ailments such as nephritis and for more common problems such as cystitis. The plant contains saponins that are antifungal and act specifically against the Candida fungus which is the cause of vaginal and oral thrush. It also contains rutin which is used to treat capillary fragility, and phenolic glycosides which are anti-inflammatory. The leaves and flowering tops are anthelmintic, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, aromatic, astringent, carminative, diaphoretic, mildly diuretic, febrifuge and stimulant. A good vulnerary herb, it has also proved of value when used internally in the treatment of urinary infections, chronic catarrh, skin diseases, influenza, whooping cough, bladder and kidney stones etc. Due to its mild action, goldenrod is used to treat gastro-enteritis in children. It makes an excellent mouthwash in the treatment of thrush. The plant is gathered in the summer and dried for later use. The seed is anticoagulant, astringent and carminative. A homeopathic remedy is made from the plant. It is used in the treatment of kidney and bladder disorders, rheumatism and arthritis.
Once again, we find in Goldenrod a beautiful and useful plant too often considered to be an invasive weed and mistakenly maligned as an allergen. It causes me to wonder if and when modern man will again realize what our ancestors - be they
Native American, British, Celtic, Germanic, Slavic, Roman, Greek, African, Asian, Arab, etc, etc - universally knew…. That it is not only futile to fight against nature, but we do so to our own detriment? How can we observe the intricate order and beauty of the natural world, and think we could correct it in any way?
As Fr. Kneipp wrote:
How good is God ! — I cannot help saying it from my inmost heart. He not only makes the earth bring forth all that is necessary for the support of life, for our daily bread, He who in His infinite wisdom has created everything according to measure, number and weight ; makes in His paternal love numberless little herbs spring up from the earth in order to bring comfort to man in days of sickness, mitigation, and healing to his body convulsed with pain.
How good is God! Oh, that we could recognize it! Let us search for the little herbs which announce themselves by the smelling bottles attached to them by the Creator, the aromatic wholesome scent ; and let us, when gathering them, glorify with filial gratitude our infinitely loving Father, who is in Heaven!
Author: Judson Carroll. Judson Carroll is an Herbalist from the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. His weekly articles may be read at
http://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/
His weekly podcast may be heard at: www.spreaker.com/show/southern-appalachian-herbs
He offers free, weekly herb classes:
https://rumble.com/c/c-618325
Buy his new book:
https://py.pl/d1YsC
Read about Look Up: The Medicinal
Trees of the American South, An Herbalist's Guide:
https://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/2021/06/paypal-safer-easier-way-to-pay-online.html
Don't forget about The Herbs and Weeds of Fr. Johannes Künzle.
Click here to read about The Herbs and Weeds of Fr. Johannes Künzle:
https://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/2021/05/announcing-new-book-herbs-and-weeds-of.html
Disclaimer
The information on this site is not intended to diagnose or treat any disease or condition. Nothing on this site has been evaluated or approved by the FDA. I am not a doctor. The US government does not recognize the practice of herbal medicine and their is no governing body regulating herbalists. Therefore, I'm just a guy who studies herbs. I am not offering any advice. I won't even claim that anything I write is accurate or true! I can tell you what herbs have "traditionally been used for." I can tell you my own
experience and if I believe an herb helped me. I cannot, nor would I tell you to do the same. If you use any herb I, or anyone else, mentions you are treating yourself. You take full responsibility for your health. Humans are individuals and no two are identical. What works for me may not work for you. You may have an allergy, sensitivity or underlying condition that no one else shares and you don't even know about. Be careful with your health. By continuing to read my blog you agree to be responsible for yourself, do your own research, make your own choices and not to blame me for anything, ever.
5
